Attachment for pantograph engraving and copying machines



A. BREAU ATTACHMENT FOR PANTOGRAPH ENGRAVING AND COPYING MACHINES FiledDec. 3, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ANTHONY BREAU STLQW ATTORNEY.

Jan. 16, 1955 A. BREAU 2,699,606

ATTACHMENT FOR PANTOGRAPH ENGRAVING AND COPYING MACHINES Filed Dec. 3,1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiG. 2

IN VEN TOR.

, ANTHONY BREMJ ATTORNEY.

Jan. 18, 1955 A. BREAU 2,699,606

ATTACHMENT FOR PANTOGRAPH ENGRAVING AND COPYING MACHINES Filed Dec. 3,1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent ATTACHMENT FOR PANTOGRAPH ENGRAVING This inventionrelates to attachments for pantograph engraving and copying machines andmore particularly to an improved stylus carried control for such machmesVarious types of pantograph engraving and copying machines haveheretofore been available in which a vertical rotary externally drivencutter spindle is provided on one arm of a pantographwith a stylus onanother arm of the pantograph.

The stylus is adapted for manual tracing of an engraved cutout or otherdesign or pattern previously laid out on a master plate or pattern platefor the purpose of reproducing the same design or pattern on the workand in the desired size ratio.

By adjustment of the mountings of the cutter spindle and the stylus withrespect to the pantograph arms, the size ratio of the transfer from themaster plate or pattern plate to the work can be readily varied asdesired.

It has also heretofore been proposed to employ a spring returned depthregulator as a mounting for the cutter spindle, which depth regulatorhas provisions for ad ustment of the depth of cut by limiting thepermissible downward movement of the cutter.

In the operation and use of the machines now available on the market, itis necessary, in most instances, for the operator to use two hands, oneto actuate or position the stylus and the other to advance the cutterdownwardly to the work. With machines of this type, there arenecessarily size limitations to permit of this type of manual actuationbut in all sizes the positioning of the hands and arms of the operatorquickly brings on a condition of fatigue and decline of proper carefulcontrol of the cutter.

Various types of control have heretofore been proposed but none of thesehas proven satisfactory. Accidental downward movement of the stylus atan undesired location in the machines of this type now availablefrequently occurs and usually results in spoilage of the work.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide anattachment for pantograph engraving and copying machines by which thecontrol of the positioning of the cutter spindle is effected by and fromthe stylus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attachmentfor pantograph engraving and copying machines in which the cutterspindle is only actuated to or maintained in a cutting position-forpredetermined positions of the stylus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attachmentfor pantograph engraving and copying machines in which a predeterminedrange of movement of the stylus is utilized to position the cutter andactuating movement is not permitted except at locations corresponding toportions of the master plate or pattern plate which are to be copied ortransferred.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in anattachment of the character aforesaid, an improved solenoid control ofthe positioning of. the cutter, with an adjustable dashpot forregulating the speed of advance of the cutter to the work. i

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attachmentof the character aforesaid in which a retarded solenoid action isemployed for downward or advancing movement of the cutter with a springfor upward or return movement of the cutter.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in anattachment of the character aforesaid, a stylus which may be utilized atany desired level over a relatively wide range of positions Without thenecessity for adjulstments to accommodate the stylus to the desired leveIt is a further object of the present invention to provide an attachmentof the character aforesaid, having improved visibility of the tracingend of the stylus.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be morereadily understood from the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 isa top plan view of a portion of a pautographic engraving and copyingmachine with the attachment in accordance with the invention appliedthereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the machine ignd alttachment,taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is an enlarged verticalcentral sectional view of a preferred form of stylus and mountingtherefor forming part of the present invention, and taken approximatelyon the line. 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately onthe line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuit connectionsfor the control of the cutter spindle and illumination of the stylusend.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely and that various changes andmodifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a pantograph machine isshown generally at 10 with a frame a 11 on which a work piece 12 isadapted to be secured at one location by clamp bolts 12a and a masterplate or pattern plate 13 is adapted to be secured at another locationby clarnp bolts 13a.

The frame 11 also has supported thereon by means of a vertical pivot pin14, an adjustable parallelogram pantograph 15 having a pair of parallelarms 16 and 17 and a pair of parallel arms 18 and 19. The arms 16 and 19are pivotally connected by the pivot pin 14, the arms 16 and 18 arepivotally connected by a pivot pin 20, the arms 17 and 18 are pivotallyconnected by a pivot pin 21, and the arms 17 and 19 are pivotallyconnected by a pivot pin 22. The pivot pins 20 and 21 are carried inbrackets 23, adjustable along the arms 16 and 17, and the brackets 23are clamped at the desired location for a selected pantograph ratio byclamping studs 24. The pantograph arm 17 has a forward extension, asseen in Fig. 1, on which the stylus assembly is mounted, as hereinafterexplained.

The machine frame 11 also has mounted thereon an electric motor 25, witha pulley 30 on the motor shaft. The pulley 30 is connected by a drivingbelt 31 to a pulley 32, mounted on a shaft 33 which is pivotallysupported on the frame 11 by a bracket arm 34 of telescoping type andadjustable in length.

- The shaft 33 also has mounted thereon a pulley 35 secured to anddriven by the pulley 32, the pulley 35 being connected by a belt 36 to apulley 37 which drives 'a hollow cutter spindle 38.

The spindle 38 is supported by a bracket 39 which is mounted on thepantograph arm 18 and is adjustable therealong and secured in adjustedposition by studs 40, for varying the pantograph ratio.

A link 41, adjustable in length, is interposed between the shaft 33 andthe spindle 38 to position the shaft 33 upon movement of the pantograph15 about the axis provided by the pivot pin 14.

The cutter spindle 38 is mounted in an adjustable spring returned depthregulator 42 of the cam lever type,and with an outwardly extending camlever 43, which was heretofore utilized for manual operation, movable ina cam groove 44, by which the downward movement of the cutter spindle 38is effected. The cutter spindle 38 has removably mounted therein anydesired type of cutter 45, in accordance with the character of engravingor cutting desired on the work piece 12 and the material of which thework piece 12 is composed.

The foregoing pantograph machine is well known in the art and has beenincluded and described so that the construction and operation of theattachment, in accordance with the present invention, may be morereadily understood.

As shown in Fig. .1, a bracket 50 is provided on the outer end of thepantographarm 17 which has a vertical bore 51 in which a stylus assembly52 is carried.

The stylus assembly includes a vertically disposed body portion 53,preferably of light transmitting synthetic plastic such as an acrylicresin, and preferably has a small lamp 54 mounted in an opening 55therein. The body portion 53, at the lower endthereof, has an inclinedface 53a for directing the transmitted light from the lamp 54 a'ngularlyand onto the end of a foot 55 which is secured to the body portion 53 inany preferred manner, such as by bolts 56.

. At the upper end of the body portion 53, a horizontal extension 57, isprovided, the upper face of which serves as an abutment for one end of acompression spring 58. The other end of the spring 58 is in engagementwith and may be secured in an abutment block 59 having a lower threadedend 60. a

A cylindrical stylus sleeve 61 is provided within which the end 60 ofthe block 59 is in threaded engagement at its upper end, the stylussleeve having a hollow interiorly threaded section 62 extending to theupper end. The stylus sleeve 61 extends through the bore 51 and ismovable vertically therein, as hereinafter explained.

. At the lower end of the body portion 53, a horizontally extendingguide plate 63 is provided, within which the lower end of a stylussleeve 61 extends for downward movement. The lowermost portion 64 of thestylus sleeve 61 is preferably frusto-conical.

The internally threaded section 62 has mounted therein, at the lower endthereof, a spring abutment plug 65 which is adjustable in the section 62by means of a transverse slot 66. A compression spring 67, in engagementat one end with the plug 66, is in engagement at its other end with anenlarged head 63 slidable in a bore 69 in the stylus sleeve 61'. Thehead 68 has a stylus pin 70 secured thereto and the stylus pin 70 has alower end 73 for move ment into a groove, slot, depression or otherpattern or design in the pattern plate or master plate 13 as hereinafterexplained.

The stylus pin 70 is provided with a transversely extending locking orlimit pin 75, which is movable in a transverse vertical slot 76 formedin the body of the stylus sleeve 61.

ln'order to limit the movement of the stylus pin 61 to a predeterminedextent, a cylindrical limit sleeve 77 is provided, exteriorly disposedon the stylus sleeve 61 and with slots 78 for movement of the ends ofthe limit pin 75, the lower ends of the slots 78 limiting downwardmovement of the stylus pin 70, and the upper ends of the slots 78limiting downward movement of the stylus sleeve 61 as hereinafterexplained. By selection of or substitution of a limit sleeve 77 having adifferent length of slots 78 or by changing the position of the limitsleeve 77 vertically on the stylus sleeve 61, movement of the stylus pin70 can be determined as desired.

Enclosing the limit sleeve 77, an actuating sleeve 79 is provided, heldin position by a set screw 80, for manual sidewise movement of thestylus sleeve 61 and for manual downward movement of the stylus sleeve61 when the same is permitted by the master pattern.

On the upper end of the abutment block 59 an electrical contact 81 isprovided, which is normally in engagement with an electrical contact 82carried by a conductor arm 83. The conductor arm 83 is carried by abracket 84 secured to the body portion 53. The contacts 81 and 82 arecapable of separation, upon downward movement of the stylus sleeve 61.

It will be noted that the stylus assembly 52 is movable vertically withrespect to the stylus mounting bracket 50, by reason of the slidablemounting of the stylus sleeve 61 in the bore 51, and upon engagement ofthe foot 55 with the .upper face of the master plate or pattern plate13, the stylus assembly may be employed at the desired level ofoperation without further adjustment.

It is to be noted, also, that when the stylus assembly is positioned bythe foot 55 in engagement with the upper Surface of the master plate orpattern plate 13, the stylus pin 70 will be urged downwardly by thespring 67. If the end 73 of the stylus pin 70 is in engagement with theupper surface of the plate 13, the limit pin 75 will be held at theupper end of the slots 78. Downward movement of the stylus sleeve 61will be prevented and disengagement of the contacts 81 and 82 is alsoprevented. If, however, the stylus sleeve 61 is positioned so that theend 73 moves into a slot, groove or other depressed design on the plate13, downward movement of the stylus sleeve 61 and separation of thecontacts 81 and 82 may be then effected.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the depth regulator 41 as there shown,preferably has an operating cord 88 connected to the cam lever 43. Thecord 88 extends around a pulley 89 mounted on the bracket 39, carried bythe pantograph arm 18, around a pulley 90 and is connected to anabutment 91 carried on the bracket 39. The pulley 90 is preferablycarried in the bifurcated end of an armature 92 which is movable axiallyin and by a solenoid CS which is carried by a bracket 39a on thepantograph arm 18 and which is preferably held in position by one of thestuds 40.

The armature 92 of the solenoid CS is in engagement, at the inner endthereof, with a piston actuator 94 which extends into a dash potcylinder 95. The piston actuator 94 preferably has a cup leather 96 onthe inner end thereof. A compression spring 93 is provided, having oneend in engagement with the cup leather 96 and the other end inengagement with a cylinder head 97 within which an adjustable needlevalve 98 is provided for controlling flow of air out of and into thedash pot cylinder 95, as desired.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 5, the circuit arrangements areshown diagrammatically and include a pair of power leads 100 and 101which are connected to any suitable source of electrical energy, butpreferably to a L10 volt 60 cycle A. C. source.

One of the leads, such as the lead 100, is connected through a cut-offswitch 102 and the other lead 101 is connected through a .fuse 103. Theprimary winding 104 of a step down transformer T is shunted across theleads 100 and 101. The secondary winding 105 of the transformer T isconnected at one end thereof by a conductor 106 to the stylus contact81. The other end of the secondary winding 105 is connected by aconductor 107 to one end of the winding of a stylus relay SR, the otherend of the winding of the relay SR being connected by a conductor 108 tothe conductor arm 83 and therethrough to the contact 82. The outputvoltage of the secondary winding 105 may be of the order of 6 volts.

The lamp 54 is preferably shunted across the conductors 106 and 107 andconnected thereto by conductors 109 and 110.

The lead 100 extends to one terminal of the winding of the solenoid CS,the other terminal of the winding being connected by a conductor 11] toa contact 112 which is engageable by a movable contact 113 controlled bythe armature 114 of the stylus relay SR. The contact 113is connected tothe lead 101. A variable condenser 115 may be provided connected betweenthe conductor 111 and the lead 101 for reducing sparking at the contacts112 and 113. I

The winding of the solenoid CS is normally deenergized and the styluscontacts 81 and 82 are normally in engagement. The winding of the stylusrelay SR is normally energized, and the contact 113 out of engagementwith the contact 112.

Upon separation of the contacts 81 and 82 the winding of the stylusrelaySR isdeenergized and the contact 113 moved into engagement with thecontact 112 to complete an energizing circuit for the solenoid CS.

Upon energization of the solenoid CS, the actuating cord 88moves thelever 43 to advance the cutter 45 downwardly for cutting.

The dash pot prevents excessively rapid downward movement of the cutterspindle 38 of a character which might injure thecutter 45, by reason ofcompression of air in the dash pot cylinder 95 and the controlleddischarge permitted by the needle valve 98. Upon deenergization of thesolenoid CS, the return spring in the depth regulator 42 and the returnspring 93 in the dash pot cylinder 95 both act to, return the spindle 38to its initial and'noncutting position. v I v By use of the cup leather96, also, a more rapid return stroke of, the dash pot piston is effectedsince, upon the return movement, air can readily leak past the cupleather 96.

The mode of operation, it is believed, will be apparent from theforegoing, but may be summarized briefly.

With electrical energy supplied to the motor 25 in any desired mannerfor actuation thereof, the' pulley 310, through the belt 31 effectsrotation of the pulley 32 which drives the pulley 35, and therefromthrough the belt 36 effects rotation of the cutter spindle 38 and thecutter 45. The cutter spindle 38 and the cutter 45 are initially in araised position as determined by the depth regulator" 42, and out ofcontact with the work piece 12.

When it is desired to perform a cutting operation with the cutter 45,the switch 102 is closed to complete an energizing circuit for thestylus relay SR, and to permit of energization of the solenoid CS, asheretofore explained.

The stylus assembly is then moved laterally to the desired location onthe pattern plate or master plate 13, the pantograph shifting to permitof this movement and at the same time moving the cutter spindle 38 andcutter 45 to a corresponding location with respect to, but out ofcontact with, the work piece 12. The arms 34 and 41 shift the drivingpulleys as the pantograph 15 is moved.

While such positioning is being effected, the foot 55 bears on the uppersurface of the pattern plate or master plate 13, and accommodates thestylus assembly to the level of the master plate or pattern plate 13,the sliding of the stylus sleeve 61 in the bore 51 permitting movementto this extent.

The stylus pin end 73 normally rides over and is held up by the uppersurface of the pattern plate 13, and in its upper position by theengagement of the limit pin 75 with the upper end of the slots 78prevents downward movement of the stylus sleeve 61.

When the stylus sleeve 61 is moved to a location on the pattern plate13, such as a groove, slot, or other undercut part of the master patternor design, this permits downward movement of the stylus pin 70 so thatthe end 73 bottoms in the pattern groove or slot. Upon downward movementof the stylus pin 70, the limit pin 75 moves downwardly therewith to thelower end of the slots 78. The stylus sleeve 61 may then be moveddownwardly by manual application of pressure on the sleeve 79, againstthe forces of the springs 58 and 67, thus separating the contacts 81 and82. Upon the separation of the contacts 81 and 82, an energizing circuitis set up for the solenoid CS, as previously pointed out, and the cutter45 is moved downwardly to a position to make the desired cut.

While in this downward position, if permitted by sidewise movement ofthe end 73 of the stylus pin 70, an elongated, arcuate, or other out maybe made, as determined by the design on the master plate or patternplate 13. Upon reaching the extremities of a groove, slot or otherrecessed portion of the design on the pattern 13, if the stylus sleeve61 is moved so as to push the end 73 of the stylus pin 70 out of theslot or groove, the stylus sleeve 61 will be moved upwardly uponengagement by the limit pin 75 with the upper ends of the slots 78. Uponupward movement of the stylus sleeve 61, either in this manner, bymanual release of the sleeve 79, or in any other manner, so that thestylus sleeve 61 is impelled upwardly by the spring 58, the contacts 81and 82 are engaged, and upon such engagement the stylus relay SR isenergized, thus breaking the contacts at 112 and 113 and deenergizingthe solenoid CS.

Upon such deenergization of the solenoid CS, the armature 32 is returnedto its initial position, and the cutter 45 is quickly retracted from itscutting position.

It will be particularly noted that, by reason of the control of thestylus sleeve 61 by the stylus pin 70, no false out can be made byaccidental downward movement of the stylus sleeve 61, or upon movementout of the pattern groove or slot.

The working portions of the stylus pm 70 and foot 55 are illuminated bylight supplied from the lamp 54 and delivered by the face 53a onto themaster plate 13 at the location where the stylus is employed.

I claim:

1. An attachment for pantograph engravlng machines having a drivencutter carried by one of the pantograph arms and having actuating meansfor advancing said cutter towards and retracting said cutter from thework comprising stylus means carried by another of said pantograph armsfor controlling said actuating means, sald stylus means including a bodyportion, a foot member on said body portion for positioning said bodyportion with respect to said arm, a stylus pm having a tracing end,

a holder movably mounted in said body portion in which said stylus pinis mounted, a resilient member in said holder normally urging said pinoutwardly with respect to said holder, a liniit member movable with saidstylus pin, an additional limit member carried by said holder and havingspaced portions with which said firstlimit member is engageable, saidlimit members preventing butward movement of said holder when saidstylus pin" is at its inward position.

2. An attachment for pantograph engraving machines having a drivencutter carried by one of the pantograph arms and having actuating meansfor advancing said cutter towards and retracting said cutter from thework comprising stylus means carried by another of said pantograph armsfor controlling said actuating means, said stylus means including a bodyportion, a foot member on said body portion for positioning said bodyportion with respect to said arm, a stylus pin having a tracing end, aholder movably mounted in said body portion in which said stylus pin ismounted, a resilient member in said holder normally urging said pinoutwardly with respect to said holder, limit members on said pin andsaid holder preventing outward movement of said holder when said styluspin is at its inward position, and contacts controlled by movement ofsaid holder for controlling said actuating means.

3. An attachment for pantograph engraving machines having a drivencutter carried by one of the pantograph arms and having actuating meansfor advancing said cutter towards and retracting said cutter from thework comprising stylus means carried by another of said pantograph armsfor controlling said actuating means, said actuating means having asolenoid operator, said stylus means including a body portion, a footmember on said body portion for positioning said body portion withrespect to said arm, a stylus pin having a tracing end, a holder mountedin said body portion in which said stylus pin is mounted, a resilientmember in said holder normally urging said pin outwardly with respect tosaid holder, limit members on said pin and said holder preventingoutward movement of said holder when said stylus pin is at its inwardposition, and contacts controlled by movement of said holder forcontrolling said solenoid operator.

4. An attachment for pantograph engraving machines having a drivencutter movable towards and away from the work and mounted on one of thepantograph arms comprising means on said pantograph. arm for positioningsaid cutter, stylus means on another of the pantograph arms, said stylusmeans including a body portion movable with respect to said other armtowards and away from a pattern plate, a foot member on said bodyportion having a contact surface engageable with the face of the patternplate for positioning said body portion with respect to said other arm,a holder mounted in said body portion and movable with respect to saidfoot member, said holder being movable with respect to said other armtowards and away from the pattern plate, a stylus pin slidably mountedin said holder for inward and outward movement, a resilient member insaid holder normally urging said stylus pin outwardly with respect tosaid holder, movement limiting means interposed between said pin andsaid holder for preventing outward movement of said holder when said pinis inwardly disposed, and operating connections between said holder andsaid cutter positioning means.

5. An attachment for pantograph engraving machines having a drivencutter mounted on one of the pantograph arms and having actuating meansfor advancing the cutter towards and retracting said cutter from thework comprising stylus means on another of the pantograph arms, saidstylus means including a body portion movable with respect to said otherarm towards and away from a pattern plate, a foot member on said bodyportion having a contact surface engageable with the face of the patternplate for positioning said body portion with respect to said other arm,a holder mounted in said body portion and carried by said other arm andmovable with respect to said foot member and said other arm towards andaway from the pattern plate, a stylus pin slidably mounted in saidholder, movement limiting means interposed between said pin and saidholder for preventing outward movement of said holder when said pin isinwardly disposed, and operating connections between said holder andsaid actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSEllinwood July 10, 1877 Reinhardt May 21, 1895 5 Diss June 8, 1909Ziegler Nov. 2, 1909 Turner Oct. 23, 1923 Smith et al. Apr. 26, 1927Rennick Feb. 9, 1932 10 Young Sept. 5, 1939 Turchan et a1 Nov. 10, 1942Iwanowicz Feb. 16, 1943 Geibig May 30, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS GermanySept. 17, 1915 France June 7, 1943 Switzerland Dec. 1 7, 1945

